Chaeles a



(No Model.)

0. A. DAVIS.-

PAPER FILE.

' Patented July 17, 1883. m

No. 281,466. Fayz N. PETERS, mm-umw m h r, Washington. D1:

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. DAVIS, OF ROCHESTER, NEWV YORK.

PAPER-FILE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 281,466, dated duly 17, 1883.

Application filed March 14, 1883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. DAVIS, of Rochester, Monroe county, New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Paper-Files; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the paperfile, the lids or covers being expanded as they are when a quantity of papers are resting between them. the lids thrown open flatwise'. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. 4 is a plan of the plates. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the same in line 00 w of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan of the sliding plate.

Fig. 7 is a plan of the spring between the plates.

My improvement relates to paper-files, and is of that kind where the papers are stuck upon pointed posts, and are held in place by curved arms which form bows, by which the papers may be thrown over and inverted for the purpose of inserting or removing any paper in the file.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, A A show two lids or covers, between which the papers are laid. These lids are pivoted together at one end, so that the lids can be turned over and laid flatwise, as shown in the plan View, Fig. 2.

The hinge consists of the following parts: a is "a pivot-pin, whose length is the width of the lids. b b are two flat steel springs at each end of the pivot. One of these springs is attached to one lid and the other to the other, as shown in Fig. 2, and fastened by staples or any other desired means. The ends only are attached, leaving the center part free, and the opposite ends have eyes which rest around the pivot. If desired, the springs may be reenforced by one or more leaves to give extra stiffness and strength. These parts serve not only as a hinge to allow. the lids to turn, but the springs yield as the papers increase in thickness, and allow the lids to adapt themselves to any necessary thickness of thepapers. This is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in which the lids are shown some distance apart, as they would be under such circumstances. This efthe springs and leaving the center free.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the file with (No modcl.)

feet is produced by attaching the ends only of Another advantage is that the springs form braces to the pivot and hold it straight, and prevent any lateral twist or displacement of the lids, and prevent the lids from getting out of line, and obviate the strain upon the wood that would occur where separate hinges are used.

Bis a metallic plate screwed or otherwise fastened to the lower lid near its head.

0 is a plate that slides forward and back under or within this fixed plate. The sliding plate 0 has two upright posts or pins, d d, made pointed at the top, as shown, upon which posts the papers to be filed are stuck in the usual way.

The fixed plate B has two curved arms, ff, which are stationary. When the sliding plate is pushed in, the ends of the arms meet and form a continuous arch, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In this condition, when the file is opened, as in Fig. 2, the papers, or any portion of them, can be thrown over, and then, by drawing out the sliding plate, the arms will be separated, so that any paper can be inserted or removed. This arrangement of the connecting and disconnecting arms is old, and I do not claim it. Other pins, 9 9, attached to the sliding plate, maybe used standing in advance of the pointed posts d d, the same serving simply as gages in attaching the papers to the pointed posts.

The sliding plate 0 has a central tongue, 71, which extends through the fixed plate and projects on the back side when the slide is forced in, and is provided with a hole by which the file may be hung up when desired. The sliding length of the slot, which movement is sufficient to properly separate the arms or pins before described.

E is a spring which rests between the two plates, and receives the tongue h between its converging sides. The tongue has offsets l l on opposite sides, which take the contact of the spring. The spring may be of any desired form which will serve the purpose. When the slide is drawn out, the tongue will expand the spring.

When it is pushed in again, the inclined sides of the spring will draw the slide in by its own automatic action, not requiring any pressure of the hand except in giving the initial movement.

I is a wire or rod attached to the front end of the sliding plate 0, thence extending forward the whole length of the lower lid, passing through a staple, m, and turning up at right angles at the end, forming a ratchet end, n, which projects up through a ring, 1), attached to the upper lid. The ratchet end has a certain degree of elasticity, which makes it catch on the ring, and it also allows it to be detached without trouble. It forms a fastening to the lower end of the file. It also serves as a handle to slide the plate 0 forward and back when it is disconnected from the ring. It also serves as a handle to carry the file. If desired, also, the plate 0 can be pushed back by applying pressure to the projecting end of the tongue h, which rests outside the rear end of the file. The plates B C may be made of difi'erent form from that described without affecting the result.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In. a paper-file, the combination, with the lids or covers A A, of the pivot-pin a and the two sets of flat springs b I), attached at one end to the pivot and at the opposite end to the two lids, forming a hinge and al- 0 lowing the lids to expand under difi'erent thicknesses of the paper, as herein shown and described.

2. In a paper-file, the combination, with the two lids, of the plates B 0, attached to the 3 5 bottom lid, and the spring E, between the plates, one plate being fixed, the other sliding forward and back, the sliding plate being provided with a tongue, h, having offsets Z Z, which engage with the spring, as shown and dc- 4o scribed, and for the purpose specified.

3. In a paper-file, the combination, with the two lids, of the fixed plate B, the sliding plate 0, the spring E, and the wire or rod I, attached to the sliding plate, extending forward 5 the length of the lower lid, and provided with the ratchet end n, which engages with a fastening, 19, of the upper lid, as herein shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed 50 my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES A. DAVIS. Witnesses:

R. F. OSGOOD,

JACOB SPAIIN. 

